Simon

Today, while lying comfortably on the beach, I noticed for the thousandth time those microscopic organisms moving in my eyes. When I observe them, I’m never quite sure what to think. They seem like invaders over which I have no power. I can look at them, yet at the same time, they feel light-years away. Every time I shift my gaze, I brainstorm ways to get rid of them, but I never find a solution. I was looking directly at the sky when they reappeared. In my experience, they become exceptionally noticeable when looking up at a clear blue sky or a white wall. It turns out this is just one of those peculiar, yet completely normal, quirks of human biology. Officially known as eye floaters—or myodesopsia, from the Greek for "fly-like visual effects"—they are rarely noticeable when we are young. However, as we age, these microscopic fragments accumulate until we suddenly feel like we’re being colonized by tiny alien invaders. It’s easy to imagine someone noticing them for the fir...

Pickleball is so popular across Southeast Asia that I assumed it originated in Thailand or Vietnam. So I was flabbergasted when a friend from Portland mentioned its roots were actually in the American Pacific Northwest. A quick bit of research confirmed it: in the summer of 1965, Joel Pritchard and Bill Bell of Bainbridge Island, Washington, wanted to play badminton with their families but couldn't find a shuttlecock. Improvising with ping-pong paddles and a perforated plastic ball, they lowered the net and created a game the whole family could play together. By 1967, the first permanent outdoor pickleball court was built, and the game rapidly gained traction around Seattle. Seeing its potential, Pritchard and a group of associates incorporated Pickle-Ball, Inc. in 1968 to market and supply the required equipment. Word spread quickly from the Pacific Northwest down to California, Arizona, Hawaii, and Florida. By 1976, the sport reached a major milestone when Tukwila, Washington h...